Meeting Minutes for July 06, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Carolyn Olsen, Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Curt Piri, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Deputy Clerk; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; and Nick Dragisich, City Engineer.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Matanich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
III. Discussion with St. Louis County Fair Board Members, Conrad Jacobsen and Brian Toivola
IV. A. 1) 16th Avenue Reconstruction Project-Mesabi Bituminous-Payment Request No. 2
V. A. City Hall ADA Committee-Change of Committee Member
V. B. West Entrance to Downtown Mountain Iron
2. Approve the minutes of the June 15, 1998, regular meeting as submitted.
3. That the communications be accepted, placed on file, and those requiring further action by the Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
4. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period June 16-30, 1998, totaling $360,721.31, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period June 16-30, 1998, totaling $465,308.58, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion to adopt the consent agenda carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the Public Forum, Ed Roskoski spoke and agreed with the letter written by Margaret Ratai regarding the speed limit signs being moved further south on County Road 7 by Ann’s Acres. He said that previous Councils have brought this up with the County and the situation has not been taken care of. Mr. Roskoski also expressed concern over the City purchasing tax forfeited property in Section 10, Township 58, Range 18 West. He thought that the previous owner, D.B. Western, had contaminated the soil there and that the City would have to have it cleaned up. The Director of Public Works said that the City has several options before the land transfer. The Director of Public Works said that there would be a Phase I Environmental report completed that would addressed the contamination issue. Mr. Roskoski said that this should be addressed in the purchase agreement for the land to protect the City.
Also during the public forum, Brian Toivola, President of the St. Louis County Fair Board and Conrad Jacobsen, St. Louis County Fair Board member, were present to discuss the possible location of the St. Louis County Fairgrounds in Mountain Iron. The Mayor briefed the Council on previous discussions with the St. Louis County Board Members and the St. Louis County Fair Board Members. The Mayor said that the St. Louis County Fair Board had gone on record stating that they want to locate in Mountain Iron. Mr. Toivola said that the Fair Board wants to have a partnership with the City of Mountain Iron to complete the project. The Council members said that the next step would be to have the St. Louis County Fair Board, the Mountain Iron City Council, and St. Louis County Board meet to discuss the project. Mr. Toivola said that to replace the present fairgrounds would cost approximately $6-$9 million. The County should turn over $1 million for the project from the funds that they received from the State of Minnesota. Mr. Jacobsen said that the St. Louis County Fair is rated ninth in the State of Minnesota.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Skogman to direct City Staff to work closely with the St. Louis County Fair Board and begin planning for the relocation of the fairgrounds, work with U. S. Steel Corporation for the land acquisition, begin planning for the infrastructure to the site by preparing preliminary cost estimates, and look into any possible funding options that would be available for the project, (i.e., State of Minnesota, IRRRB, City of Mountain Iron, Federal Government, U. S. Department of Agriculture, St. Louis County, Quad Cities, private financing sources, etc.); and further, to allow engineering services as needed. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to accept the recommendation of the City Engineer and authorize payment request number two to Mesabi Bituminous for the 16th Avenue Reconstruction Project in the amount of $31,862.15. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Olsen asked if the City Engineer would be able to attend the Planning and Zoning Meeting. He said that he was not aware that he was supposed to attend the last meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission, but he would attend the next meeting.
The Recreation Director informed the City Council that the $50,000 funding from the Local Park Grant Program for upgrades to the South Grove Park has received preliminary approval.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of City Staff and approve the purchase of one (1) tandem axle dump truck from Skubic Bros. at the bid price of $61,621.00 plus applicable taxes with the funding coming from the 1998 capital outlay budget. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to accept the recommendation of City Staff and approve the purchase of one (1) single axle dump truck with plow, wing, and sander from Skubic Bros. at the bid price of $80,534.00 plus applicable taxes with the funding coming from the 1998 street department capital outlay budget of $20,000.00 and garbage department capital outlay budget of $65,000.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved Brunfelt and supported by Piri to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and authorize the purchase of 10 stainless steel street light standards from United Electric at the quoted price of $1,029.00 each and move the standards presently on County Road 7 to the Downtown Mountain Iron area. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Conditional Use Permit for David Klander to construct a pole building measuring 1080 square feet on parcel 175-0058-0017 in the Spirit Lake Addition. The motion carried.
The Mayor said that Councilor Skogman will not be able to attend the City Hall ADA Committee meetings because of some scheduling conflicts. It was the consensus of the Council to have Mayor Brunfelt replace Councilor Skogman on the Committee.
Councilor Olsen discussed the west entrance to the Downtown Mountain Iron area. She stated that there will be an anticipated increase in Minntac traffic because the west entrance to the plant in Kinney had been closed. She felt that Old Highway 169 needed some upgrades for safety reasons.
It was moved by Olsen and supported by Piri to overlay the Main Street (Old Highway 169) from Mesabi Avenue to around the corner 50 feet in the Costin area before winter and assess 10% to the property owners and the balance of the project would be paid for by the City according to the City policy for an arterial street. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Skogman, no; Matanich, no; Piri, yes; Olsen, yes; and Brunfelt, no.
Councilor Skogman said the Street Overlay Committee should discuss the situation with Old Highway 169, the west entrance to Downtown Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve Resolution #30-98, accepting bids, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to authorize the purchase of tax forfeited land from St. Louis County legally described as follows:
City of Mt. Iron, NE 1/4 of NE 1/4, NW 1/4 of NE 1/4 ex. RR R/W 2 2/100 ac., SW 1/4 of NE 1/4 ex. RR R/W 6 20/100 ac., NE 1/4 of NW 1/4, and SE 1/4 of NW 1/4 ex. Hwy. R/W, NW 1/4 of SE 1/4 ex. RR R/W 1 34/100 ac., Section 10, Township 58, Range 18.
to be used for wetland mitigation for a purchase price of $25,885.86. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve Resolution #31-98, authorizing the Mayor and City Administrator to execute DNR lease #144-015-0475, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the payment of the 1998 third quarter appropriation to the Tri-Cities Biosolids Disposal Authority in the amount of $2,835.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed the letter received from Margaret Ratai regarding the speed limit signs on County Road 7 by Ann’s Acres Addition.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Matanich to have the City Administrator work with Sergeant Stewart to approach and forward the letter from Margaret Ratai to the St. Louis County officials and strongly recommend to the County that the City of Mountain Iron has gone on record advising them that this is a residential area and a safety issue. And further, to have the City Administrator update Mrs. Ratai on the actions of the Council. The motion carried.
The Mayor reported that he and Councilor Skogman attended the DARE fishing contest. He said that this was a very good event and a very worthwhile program for the area.
During the open discussion, Councilor Matanich said that Hammerlund Construction Company did a good job on the Ann’s Acres water main extension project.
At 8:05 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
